"How could you do that to us, Izuku?!" Ochako screeches at him when the pile of friends recedes off of him like a tide. "Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?" Many of the others murmur their agreement.

Flashes of dinner conversation go through Izuku's mind and guilt roils hotly in his stomach. He can't bring himself to admit the real reason why he took off and left everyone behind for three days. "I didn't mean to worry you all so much. I just needed fresh air to clear my senses before school starts. New classes, new headspace, and new me. It was an excellent three days of self-care and I feel a lot better. I'm sorry for burdening you and thank you for your concern."

A wave of 'awh' and 'glad you're safe' is chanted to him before there are more hugs which Izuku reciprocates happily. Inasa's deep voice cuts across all of the commotion and pulls everyone's attention to him. "When will we be picking up Sunday Friend Funday again? I look forward to that every week."

The group looks to Deku expectantly. Something about him still being able to decide the fate of game night gives him a sense of security, like he can't fully be replaced if at all. "We will resume game night next Sunday at the house. I'll get the pizza."

"As much as you have bought pizza from the shop, you would think they'd give you an employee discount by now," Sero says from his perch on Izuku's bed. A few people chuckle at the comment.

"I do give him my employee discount," Tokoyami adds in an unconcerned manner while scrolling through his phone. This causes a roar of laughter to erupt.

"We are all having a great time and stuff, but I think we've graced Midori's home enough for the evening," Mina says over everyone and majority of people agree.

Izuku bids them farewell as they each leave. He assures Mirio twice that it is fine that he allowed the group into the apartment, Uraraka gets a double hug, and Iida ruffles his hair as he passes by. After closing the door, Deku lets out a long breath of relief that his guests are gone. "You aren't done yet, Nerd." Bakugou's voice makes him jump out of his skin. Both of his not boyfriends are sitting at his tiny dining table.

"I'm happy to keep you both as long as I can," Izuku replies with a bright smile.

"That is what we are here to discuss with you," Kacchan says. It makes Izuku's heart drop to his stomach.

"Deku, my co-main man," Eijirou starts, standing up and clasping Izuku's shoulder, "you need a new bed. I know you already don't have much room, but your bed doesn't really fit us all in it. And I know, Katsuki and I have tiny beds too so why don't we upgrade? We have roommates unlike you, you lucky duck."

"Are you done now, Shitty Hair?" Kacchan scoffs, standing and moving to where his two loves are. Kirishima makes a small noise of protest but otherwise remains quiet. "Ei is right though." Bakugou pulls Izuku into a tight hug. "I'm glad you got yourself sorted out. We did miss you, so try to limit your camping trips if you can." Before Deku can open his mouth, Katsuki adds in, "of course I called Auntie Inko."

Izuku simply hums in contentment as Eijirou wraps his arms around them to complete the trio. My life is okay.

Something about his new classes has Deku's creativity kicking into overdrive. He is used to painting and sketching with pencil which he still does plenty of, but as he finds himself bent over the largest sketch pad in his inventory, layering colored pencils to get Ochako's skin tone just right, he feels a deeper sense of satisfaction than he has in a long time.

There is nothing heart-wrenching about his new series. It's just his friends but they are all superheroes. Uraraka is floating above a group of villains in a forest while wearing a pink suit that looks like something astronauts would wear. There are rocks and branches levitating with her, ready to drop at her smallest whim. Izuku has decided to name it 'You'll Float Too'. To him, the best part of the entire piece is the smile Ochako has on her face, full of determination and victory for a battle she has yet to win. That smile sums up her personality very well and it makes him feel a fondness for her in his chest.

To Ochako: Are you free to get lunch with me tomorrow?

From Ochako: Sure! How about that new ramen place in the dining hall?

To Ochako: Sounds great! I'll see you there.

Sitting his phone down, Izuku picks up a pink colored pencil and continues to work. If his friends are going to make an effort to stay active with him then he will also make an effort. My life is okay.

Breathe in, breathe out. Do it again and again until it's easier. Maybe he could ask for them to slow the pace down a bit, he hadn't realized he was so out of shape. Had he really slacked off that much?

"I'm so glad you asked me to come out with you today, Midoriya. It feels like it's been forever." Momo drops her eight shopping bags next to a bench and plops down. Izuku silently thanks every god that is listening as he sits his three bags down and throws himself beside her.

"It has been forever and that, my dear, is just a shame," he adds.

"Have you decided where you are going to order your new bed from?"

He shakes his head. "Do you have any suggestions?"

"Midoriya, I hope that question was rhetorical."

Laughing, he says, "thank you for having my back." In his mind, all he can think is my life is okay.

"Stretch out Midoriya, you don't want to injure yourself," Iida chides firmly at him.

Izuku is sprawled out on his back, chest heaving, and shirt soaked with sweat. "I am an artist," he gasps out, "I don't need working legs to draw."

Iida glares daggers in his direction. "That is distasteful and rude of you to say. You're running three miles tomorrow just for the snark." He can only bring himself to groan at the very real threat. Things could definitely be worse. My life is okay.

The interior of One for All has yet to change in the last two years that Izuku has worked there and it makes it feel very familiar and home-like to him.

"Izuku, you called the business partner meeting in, so you start," Toshinori says, sitting on the leather couch opposite of him.

"Professor Aizawa said something to me when I was working on graduate school planning with him and I think we should try it. I want to turn the waiting area and the hallway walls into an art gallery where we hang up amateur artists' works and sell them. No other shop offers that kind of opportunity and we should be leading the way in it. Between our advertising, the artists' word of mouth, and social media, I think this can become a big deal."

Toshinori looks thoughtful for a minute before saying, "One for All doesn't use social media. I don't have time for that."

"We do now, Pops," Shinsou says nonchalantly as he walks by them.

"Shinsou runs our social media pages," Izuku chimes brightly. "The art industry is becoming popular again. I don't want us to miss out."

With a sigh, Toshi nods. "I trust you and your decisions. Just tell me what we need to do to make it a reality."

"Thank you, Dad, you're the best!" He hugs the blonde man around the middle and feels slender fingers card through his curls. "You too, 'Toshi." The lilac haired man withdraws his digits from Izuku's hair with a laugh. My life is okay.

"Honestly, I'm almost surprised as you are, not because I asked you to meet with me but because you agreed."

Heterochromatic eyes gaze at him evenly, void of all emotion except a glint of curiosity. "You asked, I'm here. I'm all ears for what you have to say, Midoriya."

Izuku sucks in a deep breath before starting with, "my life is okay."